Supporting structure



Jan. 17, 1933. E. c. HARTER SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed May 18, 1929 Patented Jan. 17, 1933 PATENT OFFICE EVAN C. HARTER, OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Application filed May 18,

My invention relates to supporting structures comprising a base portion and another portion adjustable up and down thereon such as for example and more particularly chairs v and stools, in which case the portion which is adjustable up and down on the base portion forms the seat portion of the article, though the invention may be embodied in other kinds of articles.

Qne of my objects is to provide a novel, simple, strong, and inexpensive construction of supporting structure embodying highly efiective means whereby the portion thereof which is adjustable up and down may be quickly so adjusted, and when adjusted be securely held in adjusted position against accidental descent, and preferably to provide such a structure wherein the portion which is adjustable up and down is swiveled in its various vertical adjustments, on the base portion.

Another object is to provide means of the character above referred to whereby the vertical adjustment referred to may be quickly 5 and accurately eifected; and other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the lower portion of a seat structure embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in vertical sectional elevation of a portion of the structure, the section being taken at the line 2 on Fig. 1

-- and viewed in the direction of the arrow; and

Figure 3, a plan sectional view taken at the line 3 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

In the drawing, the base portion of a stool,

chair or the like, is represented at 4, this base portion being shown as comprising four equidistantly spaced supporting legs 5 rigidly held together at their inwardly deflected vertical leg portions 6 by any suitable means,

those shown comprising vertically spaced plates 7, 8 and 9.

The seat portion of the construction comprises a vertically disposed post 10 which, in practice, would be provided with a seat portion (not shown), the post 10 extendlng 1929. Serial No. 364,212.

at its lower end through the space within the grouped upper ends 6 of the legs and through openings 11 and 11 in the plates 7 and 8 and a central opening in the plate 9, in which openings the post is vertically adjustable.

Cooperating with the base portion 4 and the post 10 are means for holding this post in vertically adjusted position on the base, these means comprising a ring 12 which surrounds the post 10 and is located between bushings 1S and 14 extending at reduced portions thereof upwardly and downwardly through the openings 11 and 11*, respectively, in the plates 7 and 8, and through which bushings the post 10 extends and in which this postisadjustable up and down and rotatable.

The means new described also comprise a set screw device cooperating with the ring 12 and post 10 for releasably securing these parts together, this set screw device being shown as formed of a screw section 15 which is threaded in an opening 16 in the ring 12, and a block section 17 which extends into a recess 18 in the inner wall of the ring in line with the screw section 15 and projects into a lateral groove 19 in the side of the post 10 and extending lengthwise of the latter, a pin 20 being provided to hold the block 17 against downward displacement.

In accordance with my invention provision is made for the supporting of the seat post 10 in such a way that weight imposed thereupon, operates to tighten the means holding the seat post in vertically adjusted position, in the construction shown, by exerting a wedging action to produce this tightening, and without impairing the device for the relatively free swiveling of the seat post.

The construction shown to this end, there-- fore, involves the provision of the bottom wall 21 of the groove 19, as a surface which inclines downwardly toward the axis of the post. 10 as shown whereby when the screw 15 is tightened, the tendency of the post 10, under the weight imposed thereon is to cause a wedging action to be exerted between the surface 21 and the opposing surface of the block 17 which firmly holds the post 10 against lowering.

As will'be noted, the seat post 10 is swiveled on the base portion 4, at the ring 12 which while resting upon the bushing 14 is rotatable thereon, thereby causing the supporting structure to present the dual feature of vertical adjustment of its seat portion while permitting in all positions of its vertical adjustment the desired swiveling action.

It will, of course, be understood that the set screw device instead of being provided in sections as described, may be formed in a single screw section the inner end of which engages the inclined lateral surface 21 of the post 10. It is preferred, however, that this set screw device be provided of plural sectional form as shown and described and also preferred that the inner surface of the block 17 and represented at 22 incline at the same angle as the surface 21, but in a reverse direction.

\Vhile I have illustrated and described a particular construction embodying my invention and referred to a certain modification thereof, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit my invention thereto, as the same may be embodied in other forms of structures and the structures shown further modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A chair base or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting member having a vertical bore, a smooth surfaced cylindrical member slidably and revolubly mounted in said bore and having a longitudinal groove downwardly increasing in depth, a collar surroundin said cylindrical member and seating upon said supporting member, and elevation adjustment controlling means carried by said collar comprising pressure producing means and a groove engaging element, a portion of said controlling means projecting into said groove during sliding movement of the cylindrical member to preserve rotational registration of the groove and controlling means, whereby pressure of said groove engaging element against the bottom of said groove clamps the collar upon the cylindrical member.

2. A chair base or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting member having a vertical bore, a smooth surfaced cylindrical member slidably and revolubly mounted in said bore, and havinga longitudinal groove downwardly increasing in depth, a collar surrounding said cylindrical member having a recess, a groove engaging member seating in said recess, and means carried by said collar to press said engaging member against the bottom of said groove whereby to adjustably clamp said collar upon the cylindrical member and to revolubly support the same by contact of the collar with said supporting member.

3. A chair base or the like com rising, in combination, a pair of fixed space members having aligned vertical bores, a smooth surfaced cylindrical member slidably and revolubly mounted in said bores and having a smooth surfaced longitudinal groove downwardly increasing in de th, a collar surrounding said eylindrica member between said spaced members and having a recess opposite said groove, a groove engaging member seating in said recess, and screw means carried by said collar to press said engaging member against the bottom of said groove whereby to adjustably clamp said collar upon said cylindrical member.

EVAN C. HARTER. 

